Godman Ashok Kharat sent to ED custody till May 26 in Mumbai PMLA case
Synopsis
A Mumbai PMLA court has sent self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to ED custody till May 26. The agency alleges he posed as an incarnation of Lord Shiva to extort over ₹5 crore, opened 60 bank accounts, and made cash withdrawals of ₹23.87 crore — with 17 FIRs already registered against him across Maharashtra.
Key Takeaways
A special PMLA court in Mumbai remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to ED custody till 26 May 2025 .
The ED alleges Kharat extorted more than ₹5 crore by posing as an incarnation of Lord Shiva , with ₹5.62 crore spent on personal assets and tours.
Investigators detected cash withdrawals of ₹23.87 crore across approximately 60 bank accounts in which Kharat was listed as beneficiary or nominee.
A Mercedes-Benz car and a farmhouse were allegedly purchased using the complainant's funds; a second victim named Harshad was also allegedly defrauded.
A total of 17 FIRs have been registered against Kharat across Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts, covering sexual assault, fraud, anti-superstition violations, and money laundering.
The Maharashtra SIT is separately probing allegations of sexual exploitation facilitated through religious manipulation at the Ishaneshwar Temple complex.
Self-styled godman Ashok Kharat was on Wednesday, 20 May remanded to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody until 26 May by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai, in a case linked to alleged extortion, financial fraud, and money laundering. The agency had sought seven days of custodial interrogation to trace the alleged money trail.
What the ED Alleged in Court
According to the ED, Kharat allegedly posed as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and extorted more than ₹5 crore from a complainant. The agency further alleged that the funds were channelled into luxury purchases, including high-end vehicles, a farmhouse, and foreign trips.
Investigators told the court that Kharat allegedly spent ₹5.62 crore on personal assets and tours. Among the specific allegations: a Mercedes-Benz car was purchased in his name using the complainant's money, with Kharat taking possession of the vehicle only after the loan was fully repaid. The complainant's credit card was also allegedly used without authorisation.
Scale of Alleged Financial Transactions
The ED informed the court that Kharat had opened approximately 60 bank accounts in which he was listed as beneficiary and nominee. Cash withdrawals amounting to ₹23.87 crore were detected during the probe. 'We want to identify the source of that cash,' the agency stated, adding that large-scale transactions were also traced through accounts held at the Bank of Baroda.
A separate victim, identified as Harshad, was also allegedly defrauded of crores of rupees by Kharat, according to the agency. The ED additionally alleged that Kharat extorted ₹2.5 crore from the complainant under the pretext of a real estate investment.
Methods of Alleged Exploitation
The Maharashtra Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is separately probing Kharat, has alleged that he used claims of 'divine powers' and death threats against victims' families to facilitate sexual exploitation. According to investigators, Kharat allegedly used sleight-of-hand tricks under the cover of darkness at the Ishaneshwar Temple complex to cultivate a false belief in his supernatural abilities. Items such as pebbles and rudraksha beads were reportedly used to extort money by exploiting the religious sentiments of victims.
FIRs and Charges Across Maharashtra
A total of 17 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against Kharat across Nashik and Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) districts in Maharashtra. The charges span sexual assault, fraud, violations of anti-superstition laws, and money laundering. The ED noted that similar patterns of extortion had surfaced across multiple FIRs, suggesting a systematic modus operandi.
Further investigation into the case remains underway, with the ED expected to present its findings before the PMLA court when custody ends on 26 May.
Point of View
₹23.87 crore in cash withdrawals, and a Mercedes-Benz are not the profile of a spiritual leader but of a structured financial operation. What makes this case significant beyond the individual is the pattern: the ED's own submission notes similar extortion methods across multiple FIRs, suggesting this was not opportunistic but systematic. Maharashtra's anti-superstition law exists precisely for cases like this, yet the sheer scale of alleged transactions points to enforcement gaps that allowed the network to grow unchecked for years. The SIT and ED running parallel probes raises a coordination question that authorities will need to answer before trial.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ashok Kharat sent to ED custody?
A special PMLA court in Mumbai remanded Ashok Kharat to Enforcement Directorate custody until 26 May 2025 to allow investigators to probe the alleged money trail linked to extortion and financial fraud. The ED sought seven days of custodial interrogation to trace transactions across approximately 60 bank accounts.
What are the main allegations against Ashok Kharat?
Kharat allegedly posed as an incarnation of Lord Shiva to extort over ₹5 crore from a complainant, using the funds for a Mercedes-Benz, a farmhouse, and foreign trips. The ED also alleges ₹23.87 crore in suspicious cash withdrawals and unauthorised use of the complainant's credit card.
How many FIRs have been registered against Ashok Kharat?
A total of 17 FIRs have been registered against Kharat across Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts in Maharashtra. The charges include sexual assault, fraud, violations of anti-superstition laws, and money laundering.
What role did the Ishaneshwar Temple play in the case?
According to the Maharashtra SIT, Kharat allegedly used the Ishaneshwar Temple complex to perform sleight-of-hand tricks in darkness, fostering a false belief in his supernatural powers among victims. He reportedly used religious items like pebbles and rudraksha beads to extort money.
What happens after the ED custody period ends on May 26?
When the custody period expires on 26 May, the ED is expected to present its findings before the PMLA court. Investigators may seek an extension or move toward filing a formal charge sheet, depending on what the custodial interrogation reveals about the alleged money trail.
